No Other God

Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great height, five cubits tall. In the Egyptian’s hand there was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
1 Chronicles 11:22-23

God sent snow that brought Atlanta to a halt last week which prompted me to search the scriptures for the word “snow”. There turned out to be far more references than I realized. As I was on my way home from work last Tuesday, traffic having stopped yet again, I looked around to see the snow falling. I had already been in the car for nearly three hours, and as I watched the flakes floating through the air I thought, “This would be a serene and beautiful experience if I wasn’t stuck in bumper to bumper traffic!” It’s funny how circumstances can change your point of view, and as I studied the word of God, I realized these recent events had been used of God to give me a fresh perspective on snow.

Job 37:5-6 reads: “God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend. For He says to the snow, “Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.” One of the things that magnifies God in his incomprehensibility is the sending of snow. The invention of the microscope gives us a whole new appreciation of this truth. We stand amazed at the diversity displayed in each snowflake, this unique creation of God! I used to would have read v. 6a regarding the snow and only thought of blessing, but this time the end of v. 6 jumped out at me. A light rain may be beneficial, but what about the torrential downpour that destroys the crops instead of benefiting them?!! The same goes for snow. At times, we see the refreshing nature of it as in Pro 25:13. Isa 55:10 says it causes the earth to “bring forth and bud”. But, as those of us in metro-Atlanta now know too well, there is another side of snow.

When God began to speak to Job in 38:22, 23, He asked Job, “Have you entered the treasury of snow, or have you seen the treasury of hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?” Here God’s snow is associated with trouble! It can be used in judgment instead of blessing! In fact, the first two times snow is mentioned in the Bible, it’s not associated with something favorable. In Exo 4:6 and Num 12:10 we have the phrase “leprous as snow”. Snow is associated with leprosy which is a strong picture of sin in the scriptures! It was incurable in biblical times, and one who God had healed of the disease couldn’t be clean without a sacrifice per Lev 14.  So, with this fresh perspective of snow, I encountered our text today and a warrior named Benaiah. See if this mighty man reminds you of another mighty Man!

He killed two “lion-like men” of Moab, a nation marked by pride in Isa 16:6-7.  They exalted themselves over the Lord in Jer 48:42-43 and His people in Zep 2:8-10. Wasn’t that the sin of Lucifer in Isa 14:12-14? In his pride he said, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…I  will be like the Most High.”  But he’s brought down to the pit in v. 15 which leads us to Benaiah’s next defeated foe–a lion in a pit. How is Satan described in Rev 9:11? The angel of the bottomless pit! We also know him as “a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” in 1Pe 5:8. This warrior jumps in the pit with this beast on a snowy day, a day we’ve now seen associated with sin and judgment!  It was a dark day when Christ died on that cross, but what appeared to be defeat as He became sin for us was in fact victory as we were made the righteousness of God in Him! (2Co 5:21) He defeated our great enemy in a snowy day! And how did He do it? Notice Benaiah’s next enemy–the Egyptian. He approaches him not with a spear or a sword but with a staff, a shepherd’s tool! Need I refer to Jesus’ description of Himself in Joh 10:11?  Benaiah kills this Egyptian with his own spear, and that’s exactly what Jesus did to the devil!! Satan’s own weapons of sin and death became his downfall as Jesus took the sin upon Himself and through death defeated the enemy!  Heb 2:14-15 reads: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” As I read further on Benaiah, I found he was made captain over all the armies of Israel in in 1Ki 2:35. I couldn’t help but think of Christ in Rev 19:11-14 leading the armies of heaven, all those clothed in fine line which is Christ’s righteousness per v. 8!

Thank God for changing my circumstances last week so I could have a fresh perspective on snow and see my heavenly Benaiah revealed in His word!  Though leprosy was incurable, there was One who came among us that cleansed men of their leprosy! (Lk 7:22) He had power over that which no one else did, and though snow from one perspective may direct our minds to sin and judgment, because our Champion defeated the lion of the pit in that snowy day, we can now rejoice and see snow from another perspective: “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow“. (Isa 1:18)  We can cry out to God in great hope as the psalmist does, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow”! (Psa 51:7)

Jamie

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”
1 Peter 1:6-7

In last week’s post, we saw the scattered preachers of Acts 8:1 and considered the fact that God used persecution in the lives of these believers to fulfill His will for them to preach His word by the power of the newly-given Holy Ghost all over the world. A brother asked the following question after reading the post: “Is there a differentiation between God’s discipline for not being fully obedient to Him and just the trials of this fallen world?” I rejoiced to hear the question because it confirmed my own feeling that I did not have time last week to get into that very distinction. The answer to the question is, “Absolutely!” As our text today says, the Christian walk is accompanied by “various” trials.  There are at least three types of suffering in the lives of believers, and each one is comes with a blessing!

The first type of suffering is that same suffering we experienced prior to salvation. It is, as the brother phrased it in his question, “the trials of this fallen world”. Some erroneously teach that the believer is not subject to such suffering unless he falls into sin. The scripture no where teaches such a concept. In fact, it teaches the opposite: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man…” (1Co 10:13) We have flat tires just like everyone else. We get sick and suffer the pain of disease along with all humanity. God hasn’t put a barrier around us to prevent such circumstances, but, as the verse continues, He does promise His children the power to overcome these trials without giving in to the temptation to sin. “…but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” The great blessing in this type of suffering is that, by it, we are made able to minister to others in similar struggles. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2Co 1:3-4)

The second type of suffering is the only one which could be avoided if we were sinless. It is the chastisement applied by our heavenly Father because of our disobedience. He is a faithful Father, and He will see to it that His children learn submission and compliance to His will. God’s children will look like His only begotten Son! “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Rom 8:29) Jesus is the pattern for all His siblings, and God is working on us to shape us into that mold. This suffering, though painful, is a great blessing in our lives because it is a clear evidence that we are truly children of God: “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.” (Heb 12:7-8) You may claim to be a child of God, but if He doesn’t apply the rod when you step out of line, then you are illegitimate, i.e. not really His child at all!

The final type of suffering the believer encounters is that suffering arising from the enemy’s attacks. This persecution is unique to the believer because it comes as a direct result of following our Lord Jesus. Christ warned that because they hated Him, they would hate us also. (Joh 15:18-20) 2Ti 3:12 says plainly: “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” This suffering is the cross of Christ in our lives. Jesus wasn’t nailed to a cross because He did wrong. He was nailed there because He did everything right! When we suffer for righteousness, we look like Jesus! And that is the blessing in this trial–we are able to enjoy the special communion with Christ that Paul calls “the fellowship of His sufferings”! (Php 3:10) That’s why Peter and John could rejoice after being beaten and imprisoned. They knew it was a great privilege to suffer shame for Christ’s name! (Act 5:41)

The important thing to remember regarding suffering in the Christian’s life is that it is always guided by their loving Father for their good. Mankind in general does not have such a promise, but Rom 8:28 makes this fact clear to the believer: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Notice that last phrase. Our lives and experiences have purpose–“His purpose”.  Suffering is not random, uncontrolled, or meaningless.  God is accomplishing that which is needful for our benefit and for His glory.  Thank you, Lord!

Jamie

“At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles…Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.”
Act 8:1-4 

How glorious the promise of Act 1:8!  It reads: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…”  The disciples must have rejoiced at the promise of the Spirit!  Notice that to receive the Holy Spirit was to receive “power”.  The Greek word for “power” is “dunamis”.  Sound familiar?  It’s where we get our English word “dynamite”!  Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?  What a power was to be bestowed upon the church when the Spirit of God was given.

Act 1:8 continues on with the result of that powerful gift: “…and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  The power of the Holy Ghost would enable these men and women to be effectual witnesses unto Christ.  You wonder if they imagined how God would manifest this great power in delivering His word.  When dynamite blows up, it’s a pretty spectacular sight!  What would be the spectacular means that God would use to accomplish this amazing task of carrying the witness of Christ throughout Judea, Samaria, and the end of the earth?  I don’t know that any of the disciples saw what was coming.  It was the “great persecution” of Act 8:1 that would be the catalyst for this missionary effort!

Persecution is never what we desire.  Even Christ in going to the cross was said to despise the shame. (Heb 12:2) We know that He prayed in the garden that this cup of suffering would pass from Him IF it was possible.  But, He didn’t stop there.  He understood that much of what must be accomplished in the kingdom can’t happen any other way.  He faithfully followed His request to His Father with “nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Mat 26:39) The Apostle Paul by his own witness said he labored more abundantly than all the other apostles!  He wasn’t boasting but merely stating a fact.  He quickly gave the credit to God saying, “yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1Co 15:10) But, how would God characterize Paul’s calling at the very outset of it?  The Lord said in Act 9:16, “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”  It would be suffering that would the tool used effectively in Paul’s life to produce his glorious New Testament ministry!

Dear soul, don’t despise the chastening hand of the Lord.  God promises that “afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Heb 12:11) Suffering in the life of the saint is evidence that God is working.  He hasn’t left you alone but is very active in your life.  After all, conforming fallen creatures into the image of the Son of God is going to take some work!  Heb 12:10 encourages us to remember that God only afflicts His children “for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness”.  The fire means our heavenly Refiner is working on us!  “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” (1Pe 5:10)

Love in Christ,

Jamie

Therefore you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not obey you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you.
Jeremiah 7:27

Why would God send His prophet with a word of truth to a people who God says will not hear and obey that word? If the omniscient God says they won’t listen, they will without a doubt refuse to hear, and yet he sends Jeremiah anyway. The word here is reminiscent of the what Paul tells the Jews in Act 28:25-27. It is a familiar pattern because he’s quoting what God said of the people in Isaiah’s day:

So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word:“The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” ’

So, why would God seemingly waste His servant’s time by sending him to preach the gospel where it would not bring forth fruit? Because God would magnify His mercy and longsuffering as He fully renders the hearers to be without excuse! Men will not go to hell because they don’t know the truth. They will stand before God in judgment knowing they were well aware of the consequences of their disobedience!

Rom 1:18-19 says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.” Wow! God has shown it to them!! It’s not that man doesn’t know the truth, but rather that he does know it and yet suppresses that truth in unrighteousness. I remember being lost in my sin and making every effort I could to drown out the knowledge of the truth. I knew I was doing wrong, but every time I sinned, it became a little easier to sin more. I was suppressing the truth in my life until my conscience no longer nagged me about it.

What brought me to my knees one day was becoming fully aware that if I stood before God, I would be justly condemned. Thank God that He opened my eyes to see I was under the wrath of God and without excuse! I knew Rom 2:1 spoke of me: “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.”

Every time God sends His messengers to a rebellious people to declare the gospel one more time, the judgment grows greater when they refuse to hear. The pinnacle of this act of mercy and longsuffering in sending forth His truth is when He sent His only begotten Son as a Light in this dark world. It is refusing to hear Him that will finally condemn a man eternally. “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (Joh 3:19) Has God in His great mercy declared the Lord Jesus to you one more time today? Then, “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” (Psa 2:12)

Jamie

Many today who have no reason to rejoice are preparing to do so.  They are excited about the promise of a new year, but outside of Jesus Christ, the new year holds little hope.  One thing all humanity can expect while in this fallen world is evil.  We can expect it today, and it will be there tomorrow.  That’s not much to look forward to in the new year, is it?  In that awareness, Jesus instructs us to “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Mat 6:34)

In this world, we can expect pain, crisis, and death in the new year.  Why?  Because “the wages of sin is death”! (Rom 6:23) Even to believers, the Lord promises that in “the world ye shall have tribulation”. (Joh 16:33) That may seem like a pretty bleak outlook on life, but it is simply reality in a world held captive by sin.  Would you rather have the hollow hope that a man-made New Year’s resolution brings, or do you want something more substantial today, something more certain?  Both of the previously quoted verses provide true reasons for rejoicing today and forever!  Yes, the wages of sin is death, BUT “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”!  Yes, Jesus says that in the world ye will have tribulation, BUT “be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”!

When the disciples came back excited about their earthly accomplishments in casting out devils, the Lord corrected their reason for rejoicing.  “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luk 17:20) Outside of Christ today, there is no reason for celebration.  But in Christ…well, that’s a different story!  May our reason for rejoicing this day not be the awareness of a “new year” but rather the awareness of our “new birth”!

Love in Christ,

Jamie